Resolution Number: 2000-A046
Title: Urge Conversation with Youth and Young Adults about Sexuality
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church strongly urge dioceses and congregations to provide a safe, hospitable environment for frank conversation with youth and young adults about human sexuality, to share and teach accurate information, and to promote dialogue, within the context of the Baptismal Covenant; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church Center's Ministries with Young People Cluster, in consultation with provincial networks, identify and recommend comprehensive guidelines and resources for these conversations.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 202.

Legislative History

Author: The Executive Council: Congregations in Ministry Committee
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Education

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(A046)

Resolved, the House of Bishop concurring, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church encourage dioceses and congregations to provide a safe, hospitable environment for frank conversation with youth and young adults about human sexuality, to share and teach accurate information, and to promote dialogue, not conclusions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church Center's Ministries with Young People Cluster, in consultation with provincial networks, identify and recommend comprehensive guidelines and resources for these conversations.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishop concurring, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church encourage dioceses and congregations to provide a safe, hospitable environment for frank conversation with youth and young adults about human sexuality, to share and teach accurate information, and to promote dialogue, not conclusions within the context of the Baptismal Covenant; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church Center's Ministries with Young People Cluster, in consultation with provincial networks, identify and recommend comprehensive guidelines and resources for these conversations.

Deputy Vanderstar of Washington moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Substitute the words "strongly urge" for the word "encourage".

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy Adcock of West Tennessee moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Add the words "encourage abstinence when appropriate," after the phrase "share and teach accurate information".

Deputy Doubleday of New York moved an amendment to the Adcock amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Add to the word "abstinence" the words "and safer forms of sexual behavior in light of the AIDS crisis."

Debate followed on the Adcock and Doubleday amendments.

The question was called.

A vote was taken to terminate debate on the Doubleday and Adcock amendments.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Doubleday amendment to the Adcock amendment.

Motion defeated

Doubleday amendment defeated

A vote was taken on the Adcock amendment.

Motion defeated

Adcock amendment defeated

A vote was taken on Resolution A046.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #22)

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Education presented its Report #12 on HD Message #22 on Resolution A046 (Conversation with Youth and Young Adults about Sexuality) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #97)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 8.

Report Reference:   Executive Council: Congregations in Ministry Committee, Reports to the 73rd General Convention, 2000, pp. 119-182.
Abstract:   The 73rd General Convention urges dioceses and congregations to provide safe environments for conversation with youth and young adults about human sexuality.